Lantana plant named ‘Balshamite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lantana  plant named ‘Balshamite’, characterized by its light yellow and white-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Lantana camara.

Variety denomination: ‘Balshamite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant botanically known as Lantana camara and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balshamite’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during June 2016. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Lantana cultivars having a moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit suitable for use in basket and container plantings.

The new Lantana cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection coded 3621-A, not patented, characterized by its white-colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection coded 9071, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2017 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2017 in Guadalupe, Calif. and Arroyo Grande, Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balshamite’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant:

-   -   1. Light yellow and white-colored inflorescences;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a darker green foliage color and a more mounded growth habit. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having more branches per plant and a less compact growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Lantana cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Lucky White ‘Balucwite’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,661. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balucwite’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         ‘Balucwite’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger inflorescences than         plants of ‘Balucwite’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have more flowers per         inflorescence than plants of ‘Balucwite’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balshamite’. The approximately 16-week-old plants were grown in 6-inch pots approximately 10 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch three weeks prior to transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balshamite’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balshamite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in January 2021 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 16-week-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 6-inch pots for approximately 10 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch three weeks prior to transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21° C. to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 68° F. to 74° F. (20° C. to 23° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Lantana camara ‘Balshamite’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection             coded 3621-A, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection             coded 9071, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 11 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 35             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 15.5 cm. Width: Approximately 42.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances             branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant:             Approximately 6.         -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong,             becomes woody with age. Length: Approximately 17.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a             mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem: 144A. Color of             mature stem: 146B becoming woody N199A with age. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:             Approximately 12. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to obtuse angle to stem.             Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 7.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             3.8 cm. Texture of upper surface: Scabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Scabrous and glandular pubescent along venation.             Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface             of young foliage: 137A with venation of 146B to             indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young and             mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 146C. Color             of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to NN137A with             139A, venation of 146B to indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous and glandular             pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balshamite’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 10 to 12 days from first color of outer             buds to dropping of last flower. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Hemispherical head, axillary or             terminal. Quantity per plant: Approximately 10. Fragrance:             Strong, spicy. Aspect: Facing upward or outward. Height:             Approximately 2.8 cm. Width: Approximately 4.3 cm. Quantity             of fully open flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 32.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section.             Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 3.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous and             glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color: 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Salverform.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Buds open in             progression from the margin to the center of the             inflorescence. Quantity of unopened inflorescences per             plant: Approximately 22.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, rectangular at             apex. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately             5.0 mm. Color: 4C to 4D.         -   Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 2.2 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 4, non-imbricate, non-symmetrical petals.             Petals are fused at base forming a corolla tube. Shape:             Obovate. Appearance: Dull. Aspect: Flat to cupped. Margin:             Entire to erose, ruffled. Apex: Obtuse. Length of upper             petal from throat: Approximately 7.0 mm. Width of upper             petal: Approximately 1.0 cm. Length of lateral petals from             throat: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width of lateral petals:             Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of lower petal from throat:             Approximately 6.0 mm. Width of lower petal: Approximately             1.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper surface when             first open: NN155D tinted with 4D, base of 5B. Color of             lower surface when first and fully open: NN155D. Color of             upper surface when fully open: NN155D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter at tube             opening: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Densely             pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent with             a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs at tube             opening transitioning to glabrous at base. Pubescence color:             Colorless. Color of inner surface: NN155D. Color of outer             surface: NN155D tinted with 150D.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with two broadly acute tips. Length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter at tip: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Diameter at base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner             surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely             pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular             hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner             and outer surfaces: 145D.         -   Bracts.—Quantity per flower: 1 per flower. Shape:             Lanceolate. Length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent.             Color of upper surface: 137B with 145A at base. Color of             lower surface: 137C with 145A at base.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4, adnate             to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther             shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately 1 mm.             Anther color: 8B. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium:             Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately             4.0 mm. Stigma shape: Misshapen oval. Stigma length: Less             than 1 mm. Stigma color: 144B, translucent. Style length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Style color: 155D, translucent. Ovary             diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 144C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Lantana has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘Balshamite’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 